An aneutronic fusion apparatus is disclosed that uses a lithium ammonia fuel mixture as a supercritical fusion fuel of solvated electrons thereby lowering the coulomb barrier to achieve small scale fusion. The integration of alpha sources, magnetic confinement, electrical arcing, and pressure allow for fusion events and chain reactions. The process operates in a cyclical fashion fusing atoms then fizzling creating a diamagnetic pressure in the plasma whose output energy is inductively harvested. A typical embodiment device includes: a chamber; a magnetic confinement coil surrounding at least a portion of the chamber; electrodes extending into the chamber defining a gap. A device having bidirectional electrode rod arrays has a first array with rods extending in a first direction, a last electrode rod array having rods extending in a second direction opposite the first direction, and one or more intervening electrode rod arrays each having rods extending in both directions.

An aneutronic fusion apparatus is disclosed that uses a lithium ammonia fuel mixture as a supercritical fusion fuel of solvated electrons thereby lowering the coulomb barrier to achieve small scale fusion. The integration of alpha sources, magnetic confinement, electrical arcing, and pressure allow for fusion events and chain reactions. The process operates in a cyclical fashion fusing atoms then fizzling creating a diamagnetic pressure in the plasma whose output energy is inductively harvested. A typical embodiment device includes: a chamber; a magnetic confinement coil surrounding at least a portion of the chamber; electrodes extending into the chamber defining a gap. A device having bidirectional electrode rod arrays has a first array with rods extending in a first direction, a last electrode rod array having rods extending in a second direction opposite the first direction, and one or more intervening electrode rod arrays each having rods extending in both directions.

A system includes a core, a plurality of tubes, a plurality of gates, and a plurality of compressors. The core defines a plurality of openings. The plurality of tubes extend radially outward from the core. Each tube of the plurality of tubes includes (i) a first end interfacing with one of the plurality of openings and (ii) an opposing second end. Each gate of the plurality of gates is positioned at a respective opening of the plurality of openings of the core such that the plurality of gates are positioned to selectively prevent a backflow of liquid from the core through the plurality of openings and the first end of the plurality of tubes into the plurality of tubes. Each compressor of the plurality of compressors is associated with a respective tube of the plurality of tubes and is positioned at the opposing second end of the respective tube.

A system includes a core, a plurality of tubes, a plurality of gates, and a plurality of compressors. The core defines a plurality of openings. The plurality of tubes extend radially outward from the core. Each tube of the plurality of tubes includes (i) a first end interfacing with one of the plurality of openings and (ii) an opposing second end. Each gate of the plurality of gates is positioned at a respective opening of the plurality of openings of the core such that the plurality of gates are positioned to selectively prevent a backflow of liquid from the core through the plurality of openings and the first end of the plurality of tubes into the plurality of tubes. Each compressor of the plurality of compressors is associated with a respective tube of the plurality of tubes and is positioned at the opposing second end of the respective tube.

An introduction of nuclear fusion into conventionally fission-based nuclear reactors. Particularly, coolant in the reactor serves as the secondary fuel that absorbs neutrons from the fission core, and releases energy through fusion reactions. Molten Lithium is the preferred coolant in the invention, as it produces Helium gas through the neutron-Lithium fusion without leaving any radioactive or chemical impact to the environment. A Helium pressure controller is also introduced in the system to manage the Helium gas produced by nuclear reactions of the secondary fuel. Lithium Chloride (LiCl) is proposed as the secondary coolant in lieu of the commonly used molten salt in order to achieve higher power production efficiency. A reactor based on the proposed system requires less space than a conventional reactor of the same power. It is a better choice than conventional nuclear reactors when space is a key constraint, for example, on a container ship.

An introduction of nuclear fusion into conventionally fission-based nuclear reactors. Particularly, coolant in the reactor serves as the secondary fuel that absorbs neutrons from the fission core, and releases energy through fusion reactions. Molten Lithium is the preferred coolant in the invention, as it produces Helium gas through the neutron-Lithium fusion without leaving any radioactive or chemical impact to the environment. A Helium pressure controller is also introduced in the system to manage the Helium gas produced by nuclear reactions of the secondary fuel. Lithium Chloride (LiCl) is proposed as the secondary coolant in lieu of the commonly used molten salt in order to achieve higher power production efficiency. A reactor based on the proposed system requires less space than a conventional reactor of the same power. It is a better choice than conventional nuclear reactors when space is a key constraint, for example, on a container ship.

A magnetized plasmoid injection device including a cylindrical external electrode, a cylindrical internal electrode coaxially disposed inside the external electrode, a plasma generating gas supply unit that supplies plasma generating gas in a pulse shape between the external electrode and the internal electrode, a magnetic field generation unit that applies a magnetic field that generates magnetized plasmoid between the external electrode and the internal electrode, a power supply control unit that applies a discharge voltage between the external electrode and the internal electrode, and an impurity generation unit that contains an impurity in the magnetized plasmoid, the impurity generation unit having a cover electrode that opens to the external electrode, a thin-rod electrode that is located inside the cover electrode and is formed of an impurity, and an impurity generation power supply that applies a voltage to the cover electrode and the thin-rod electrode.

A superconductor having improved critical current density when exposed to high-energy neutron radiation and high magnetic fields, such as found in a compact nuclear fusion reactor, and a method of making the same are described. According to some aspects, the method includes, prior to deployment in the exposure environment, irradiating a polycrystalline superconductor with ions and/or neutrons at a cryogenic temperature to create “weak” magnetic flux pinning sites, such as point defects or small defect clusters. Irradiation temperature is chosen, for example as a function of the superconducting material, so that irradiation creates the beneficial flux pinning sites while avoiding detrimental widening of the boundaries of the crystalline grains caused by diffusion of the displaced atoms. Such a superconductor in a coated-conductor tape is expected to be beneficial when used as a toroidal field coil in a fusion reactor when cooled well below its critical temperature.

A superconductor having improved critical current density when exposed to high-energy neutron radiation and high magnetic fields, such as found in a compact nuclear fusion reactor, and a method of making the same are described. According to some aspects, the method includes, prior to deployment in the exposure environment, irradiating a polycrystalline superconductor with ions and/or neutrons at a cryogenic temperature to create “weak” magnetic flux pinning sites, such as point defects or small defect clusters. Irradiation temperature is chosen, for example as a function of the superconducting material, so that irradiation creates the beneficial flux pinning sites while avoiding detrimental widening of the boundaries of the crystalline grains caused by diffusion of the displaced atoms. Such a superconductor in a coated-conductor tape is expected to be beneficial when used as a toroidal field coil in a fusion reactor when cooled well below its critical temperature.

An example plasma confinement system includes an inner electrode having a rounded first end that is disposed on a longitudinal axis of the plasma confinement system and an outer electrode that at least partially surrounds the inner electrode. The outer electrode includes a solid conductive shell and an electrically conductive material disposed on the solid conductive shell and on the longitudinal axis of the plasma confinement system. The electrically conductive material has a melting point within a range of 170° C. to 800° C. at 1 atmosphere of pressure. Related plasma confinement systems and methods are also disclosed herein.